Soul of service

Published 12:00 am, Saturday, February 25, 2012

A.J. Maggos, the late pastor of Open Door Fellowship in Alton, is remembered by his family and friends as a "true humanitarian."

Maggos died Feb. 6 at age 76 and left a legacy of an open church that assists the poor and people afflicted with different types of problems. He never turned away anyone who sought his help, his son, Paul Maggos, said.

"My father was a great teacher," Paul Maggos said. "The poor were always in his heart. He has been involved in several different organizations. The benevolent fund at Open Door Fellowship will continue. He had a great love for minorities, especially the Indian culture."

Paul Maggos and Dave Landry will take over the co-pastor roles at Open Door Fellowship and continue many of A.J.'s missions and interests.

"Dad was a civil rights leader in Alton before it became popular," Paul Maggos said. "He was actually saved at an all-black church. Pastor Elder Monroe is the person he came up under who mentored him in the beginning."

Lisa Norooz, a longtime friend of A.J. Maggos and a former member of his church, said he always wanted to help people.

"People would come to him on a regular basis with their needs," she said. "We often had people come into the church who were recently addicted to drugs or people coming out of prisons. He also had a prison ministry at Menard. We also had people who were mentally disabled, deaf or blind."

A.J. Maggos took pride in distributing thousands of Bibles in his prison ministry.

For about 20 years, Open Door Fellowship in Alton had a food and clothing ministry. Now the church plays host to the River Bend Community Pantry.

Judy Maggos, Paul's wife, said A.J. definitely "talked the talk and walked the walk" in his ministry.

"He lived what he believed," she said.

Paul and Judy Maggos both said A.J. was happiest when he was in the pulpit preaching because he sincerely loved it.

Paul Maggos said he hopes to carry on for his father and continue his ministry in similar ways.

"He had almost an infallible strong faith," Paul Maggos said.

A.J. had a great love of dogs, enjoyed camping and liked motorcycles, but his first love was his family and the ministry.

A.J. married his wife, Betty, in June 1952 and she survives. He had three sons, three daughters, 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Paul Maggos said his father will be remembered for his innovative methods in ministry.

"He mentored many ministers," he said. "There were a lot of pastors who came out of his church who are now all over the country. Dad was always on the forefront of prophetic ministry. He had a lot of teachings that came out before others. His life was devoted to reading the Bible and praying."